Easter: Divine Liturgy

The photographs in this feature document the last three days of the Lent period starting with a mass on Good Friday and leading into the Divine Liturgy on Saturday evening and into the Easter Sunday early morning hours. The photographs portray the Zrze monastery monastic community, as they go through this very important period and activities, focusing more on the events inside the church during the church services and liturgy.
Because the Zrze monastery is not easily reached due to its geographical location, during the Easter period traditionally the monks hold service and liturgy in another monastery on the outskirts of Prilep where many more people can come. It is the female monastery in the suburb of Varosh in whose church dedicated to the Archangel Michael the activities take place. Because of the presence of Bishop Kliment and the Zrze monks many people pour into the church during these three days culminating in the final liturgy on the Great Day (in Macedonian Easter is called Veligden meaning Great Day) after which the Lent is broken with the cracking of the coloured eggs.